Attention everybody: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. There is no special exception from this rule for political campaigns and narrow election losses. I don’t know if we need more civility in this country, but we could genuinely use more friendship. Cutting off friends, family, or your church because of how you think people voted is not the answer. And you don’t actually know how anyone voted, not even your spouse or best buddy. I believe this point was explicitly addressed during the campaign, yes?
I’m not telling you this because I’m happy about the election. I hate everything about it, especially the outcome. I hate having an election campaign raise real concerns about the physical safety of my family. This is mostly a reminder to myself that the command to love my enemies hasn’t been suspended, and that it is and has to remain the foundation of my actions.
Attention Trump voters: Congratulations, your candidate won the election. You now own everything that happens over the next four years. I expect it to be pretty bad, just like the last time was pretty bad. But good luck! Also, the winning side bears the responsibility of reaching across the aisle, showing sympathy and understanding, and trying to restore some semblance of unity. Time to get to work on that.
Attention, priesthood holders: Using slurs to refer to Kamala Harris during the election campaign was unworthy of a bearer of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Continuing to do so after the election compounds your sin. Your friends, family, and current and former ward members see what you’re doing on social media and wish you’d stop.
Attention despairing Mormon Democrats: Every incumbent government up for re-election around the world has seen its share of voters decline, but Biden’s decrease was one of the very lowest worldwide, a sign that he’s done an exceptional job as president. Every non-battleground state shifted six percentage points on average towards the Republicans, while the states where Harris campaigned heavily shifted only three percent, a sign that she did an exceptional job as a candidate. And unlike other non-battleground states, Utah barely shifted at all. The repeated messaging about political neutrality, good in every political party, and avoiding straight-ticket voting had an effect. It tastes bitter right now, but this is what success looks like.
Yes. This is so needed.
Attention Harris Voters: you and your college+ education will be vindicated in front of the entire world in the coming years. Just be ready to help clean up the mess without saying, “I told you so”, and we might just make it through this. Maybe.
My takeaways (mantra for the week) from Come Follow Me last week and this were:
“Lay down your weapons of war.”
“Go to work and build.”
Reciting the first in my head last week saved me from making many an unkind or frustrated comment.
The second points me forward in the present moment.
I have been amazed at the timely usefulness of these things.
Utah barely shifted at all….It tastes bitter right now, but this is what success looks like.
That Mormons are perhaps the only geographically concentrated group in the country not rushing headlong in the wrong direction is a reason for hope, but I cannot call it success.
Coffinberry, it’s the new Mormon curse: “May you see how the Book of Mormon is especially relevant in your time.” Yes, I get it now, thanks.
Why did she lose?